Men’s World Championship Pool Previews: Pool G

Just five days after the new world champions were crowned among the women, the 32 men’s teams that will compete in the 2025 FIVB Volleyball Men’s World Championship will get to start their journeys in the tournament, which is set to begin on Friday.

For the first time in history, volleyball-loving the Philippines will host the World Championship, having the Smart Araneta Coliseum and the SM Mall of Asia Arena, both located in the metro area of the country’s capital Manila, as the venues for the 66 matches that will be held from September 12-28.

• Watch the 2025 FIVB Volleyball Men's World Championship on VBTV

The 21^st edition of the tournament will be the first in the new era, which will have the world title put in dispute every two years and 32 national teams fighting for it.

The 32 participating teams were split into eight pools of four and will face each of their three opponents during pool play from September 12-18. The top two national teams in each pool will advance to the elimination rounds. The Round of 16 will go from September 20-23, with the quarterfinals following on September 24-25, the semifinal being held on September 27 and the medal matches ending the event on September 28.

With fans from all over the world preparing to tune in on VBTV and enjoy the matches, we’ll preview each of the eight pools.

Pool G

Match Schedule

September 13 – Canada vs. Libya – 10:30 local time (2:30 GMT)
September 13 – Japan vs. Türkiye – 14:00 local time (6:00 GMT)
September 15 – Türkiye vs. Libya – 10:30 local time (2:30 GMT)
September 15 – Japan vs. Canada – 14:00 local time (6:00 GMT)
September 17 – Canada vs. Türkiye – 14:00 local time (6:00 GMT)
September 17 – Japan vs. Libya – 21:30 local time (13:30 GMT)

Japan

Japan’s victory at the 2023 Asian Championship confirmed the team’s participation in the World Championship as one of the three representatives of the continent in the event. The Asians made their debut in 1960 and, since the, have only missed the 2014 edition, accumulating 16 appearances in the tournament. They got back-to-back bronze medals in 1970 and 1974.

The Asians are the fifth-best team in the FIVB World Ranking now and are coached by French Laurent Tillie, who is in his first year with the team. Japan expect a lot from their star outside hitter duo formed by captain Yuki Ishikawa and Ran Takahashi, and have opposite Kento Miyaura, libero Tomohiro Yamamoto and middle blocker Taishi Onodera as other key pieces on the team.

Canada

Canada were one of three national teams to secure a spot at the World Championship via the continental pathway in their region after finishing second in the 2023 NORCECA Championship. With that, they will make their tenth-straight and 13^th overall appearance in the tournament, 51 years after their debut in 1974. The Canadians achieved their best result in 2014, when they ranked seventh.

Appearing in 11^th place in the FIVB World Ranking, the Canadians have a new coach in 2025 in former national team libero Dan Lewis. Some talented young players emerged during the team’s last campaign in the Volleyball Nations League, such as outside hitter Brodie Hofer, and in the Philippines, they will be joined by outside hitter Nicholas Hoag, middle blocker Fynn McCarthy and opposite Sharone Vernon-Evans, who is set to reappear with the Canadian national team for the first time since the Tokyo Olympics, in 2021.

Türkiye

Türkiye were one of the 15 national teams that qualified for the World Championship via the FIVB World Ranking. This will be the fifth time the Europeans participate in the tournament and the first time they do it in consecutive editions, following appearances in 1956, 1966, 1998 and 2022. Their most recent campaign was also their most successful one, as it had the Turkish finishing 11^th.

After competing in the Volleyball Nations League 2025, the Turkish appear in 16^th place in the FIVB World Ranking. Hired just over two months ago, Serbian head coach Slobodan Kovač will count on star outside hitter Efe Mandıracı, the Lagumdžija brothers Adis (opposite) and Mirza (outside hitter) and setter Murat Yenipazar to lead the team in the Philippines.

Libya

Libya’s return to the World Championship was sealed when the team ranked third in the 2023 African Championship, taking one of the three spots reserved for the continent in the event. That bronze medal took the team back to the world stage after 45 years, as they are set to make just their second appearance after finishing 24^th in 1982.

Led by Tunisian head coach Ghazi Koubaa, the Africans are ranked 75^th in the FIVB World Ranking. The Ikhbary brothers Ahmed (opposite) and Mohamed (outside hitter) are important players on the team, as well as setter Abdelrahman Abu Zariba, libero Fuad Elmaarug and middle blocker Anas Alwaddani.

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